Wildfires, drought and extreme heat, 2026

Earth observation satellites are helping monitor phenomena such as wildfires, drought and heatwaves from space. This ESA page is regularly updated with images showing how climate change is impacting the world. Extreme heat has become more frequent and intense globally; the Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June 2026 was the second-warmest June on record, while Western Europe experienced its warmest June ever recorded.

Fires may be sparked by human carelessness or natural causes like lightning, but high temperatures, lack of rain, low soil moisture and strong winds have created optimal wildfire conditions. These phenomena are closely linked to climate change: up to 35% of greenhouse gases come from burning organic matter in forests, scrubland and grassland, while persistent dry conditions relate to reduced precipitation and river flow. Space-based monitoring plays a key role in understanding these interconnected issues.

Since 1 May 2026, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) has been activated more than 30 times for wildfires in Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and the UK. Satellites provide timely data: Copernicus Sentinel-2 captures high-resolution images in 13 spectral bands for true-colour vegetation monitoring and infrared heat detection; Sentinel-3's OLCI covers a 1270 km swath and its SLSTR sensor accurately measures land and ocean temperatures; Sentinel-5P measures trace gases and aerosols from wildfire smoke affecting regional air quality; and ESA's EarthCARE uses its multispectral imager and advanced lidar to highlight active fires and characterise smoke plumes.